Happy Christmas to You!!

For us what a lovely day it has been, with the exception of the dreadful bath forced upon us. See our presents being unwrapped. Our parents' even got their hands fishy and smelled of turkey oil for the love of pug. The host of lovely gifts included salmon treats from Seva & family with its pungent fishiness, a new bed and dog toys from our Mum and Dad topped off with hand-fed turkey leftovers!

Seva-- sorry our parents seem to have forgotten you this year! We will be so kind to share the yummy Bouchon foie gras treats once we get our fishy paws on them.

See us indulging in our new gifts... Happy Christmas!!

Bells ringing and ... Chestnuts roasting???

It is finally cooler in Hong Kong, and with Christmas 'round the corner we thought we would share with you our latest photo. Here we are, Chestnut and Pepper, posing by the lovely spruce tree. Check in with us again on soon. We have been invited to celebrate Christmas Eve with our lovely friends, Auntie Julia & family in Repulse Bay! Until then.. pugs and smooches xoxo

Happy Pug-o-ween

Dear Friends--

Yesterday we celebrated my brother, Chestnut's birthday. Today we celebrated Halloween in our oh-so-scary costumes.

Chunky Chestnut, went out for dressed as Bat-(man)pug. Bat-pug he was NOT though! Chestnut barely walked in his costume. Mum had to carry him. Some super-pug hero he was. Alas, even the kids at the Glenealy School weren't fazed by him! Chestnut is sure not the super-pug hero to save Gotham City, or Hong Kong, that is.

I, Pepper, on the other hand was a perfect little bumblebee.. See me, see me..

It's My Birthday... It's My Birthday

I have had the best birthday ever! This morning Mum, Dad, Pepper and I celebrated my birthday with a walk to the Peak with my new friends, Choco and Muffin, a Pomeranian and Pug, respectively, and their Mum. And shortly before our walk to the Peak, we started our morning with doggy birthday cake. Now I think that's how we should start every morning!

I even received a present from Choco and Muffin's Mum! Technically, the gift (spinach chicken treats) is meant to be shared with Pepper, but I am eager to have it all. I know, I know, this is wishful thinking. So back to chronicle of events that happened today..

We met up with Choco, Muffin and their Mum, had cake and walked to up the Peak. Only this time, we didn't take the usual way up turning right past the Red House onto Barker Road, but left. We still ended up at the Peak, but explored some other trails.

It was rather exciting. And see us tumble on the grass along an abandoned trail! The excitement did not stop. When we got home, we rested a few hours. Later, after Daddy and Mummy deceitfully brought us into the tub for a shower. We were then compensated with 2 dinners! Wellness followed by real chicken in rice. After, I even got a new bed to sleep on.

Like I said, everyday should be my birthday. How lovely it was.

Short note from Pepper

Everyone--Just look at me!!! This is the sweet and soft side of MOI! Please don't believe what my brother has posted about me. I am an ANGEL not MONKEY in disguise... The only thing missing is my halo. This photo proves my angelic, puggy pup side of my character.

Monkey in Pug disguise

Chestnut: I am letting the cat out of the bag, rather the monkey, on my sister, Pepper. Pepper is actually a monkey in the body of a black pug. I wonder how she compares to the monkeys on Monkey Mountain in Shatin. SHHHH!!!! I am not supposed to voice this aloud. This is our secret.

More on Monkey Mountain later. We have not yet made an excursion there, but I suspect Pepper might be in good company at Monkey Mountain.

Yesterday afternoon, while Mummy was tending to our ears, we were separated, as Mummy had some real cleaning to do on our ears. In her jealousy and envy of YOURS TRULY, Pepper felt compelled to make a scene. And what a scene it was.

I have not seen Mummy lose her cool in a while. Pepper was quite naughty yesterday afternoon. Mummy very trustingly left her coffee out on the arm rest tray. Low and behold! While Mum was in the bathroom cleaning my ears this pug-hog-monkey managed to knock over Mum's mug of unfinished coffee (Sometimes I wonder whether she is only just a MONKEY in the elongated body of a black pug. Pepper seems part HOG too..).

I suspect Mum left out the coffee in another attempt to press Dad on reupholstering the much-hated sofa. Instead, Mummy has found herself with another list of vendors she never intended to know about. Reupholstering cleaners like DuraClean, ChemDry, Phoenix and Viking...

This Pepper has squandered our foie gras biscuit and Canine Caviar buffalo stick allowance needlessly on the cleaners who charge more livers and buffalo sticks than I can have in a year!
So there we have Pepper who has revealed her true self just in time for Halloween. Schizomonkhogpug... What a sight that would be..

Pepper: I am so completely misunderstood by all these humans and my brother, Chestnut! I thought Mum and Dad despised that sofa and its hideous silver grey green sheen. So while Mum tended to Chestnut, I thought I would do them a huge favor by letting them have an excuse to go back and have their human seating reupholstered. This is sooo unfair! Only Seva's mum understands! Regardless, I think I should be rewarded with Bouchon foie gras biscuits and Canine Caviar buffalo sticks. It is no wonder I am more welcome in Repulse Bay...

PET JETS!

As a follow-up on the July blog post regarding the ban of brachycephalic breeds of pets on major airlines like Cathay, our Mummy has found the perfectly, posh pug solution! While browsing NYT online, an article was written on the rise of private planes for pets. This is the perfect answer to our problem. Not that we enjoy commercial anyways... Jet-set we shall be indeed!

Check these links out...
http://petjets.net/
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/07/nyregion/banned-by-many-airlines-these-bulldogs-fly-private.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

Our 1 Year Anniversary in Hong Kong

Hello again everyone--

Pepper back in action here. We have approached our 1 year anniversary here in Hong Kong, which also happens to coincide with National Week.

And what a year it has been! We have been to new places, made new friends, found new sitters and even caught up with friends from New York who have also relocated back to Hong Kong.We even have business cards with our blog and a FaceBook page too!

We marked our anniversary at the Peak today, and lunched with Mummy and Daddy at the Peak Lookout. We have not been to the Peak for quite a few months now, so it was time for such a family outing. Overall today was an enjoyable day. We look forward to more of these simple pleasures now that the weather is pug friendlier.

Until next time my friends... Chestnut's upcoming 5th birthday is at month end. He's hitting middle age. And find out what I will be for Halloween.

Pugs and kisses,

Pepper Marli

Pugs and other flat nosed breeds banned from airlines

We are very displeased and our parents think this constitutes discrimination of pets on airplanes!

It seems quite obvious for us and owners of our breeds and kind to refrain from taking us out for long periods of time in heat and humidity. That would also extend to flying as well, however, we came over on the plane from New York to Hong Kong in October when the weather was milder. We made it just fine.

No exceptions are being made! We protest this! These advisories and restrictions should only be in effect from May-September/October.

Owners of brachycephalic breeds take note!

http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?we_cat=11&art_id=113130&sid=33036550&con_type=3&d_str=20110715&fc=7

http://www.cathaypacific.com/cpa/en_HK/helpingyoutravel/traveladvisories?refID=a501d3de97621310VgnVCM1000000ad21c39

Who Moved their Cheese?

Hi All,

Mummy and Daddy are punishing us this evening. They're saying we moved their cheese. Honestly, we thought it was meant for us. Chestnut and I stumbled upon Mummy's newly bought Igsigny Brie from Oliver's this evening. The brie was meant to be their dinner. It ended up as dinner for us compliments of .. You guessed it. MOI!

Well stumbled is sort of an understatement, but you see, Mummy bought a bag of toys too. She left it on the sideboard.

In my attempt to get hold of the toys, I can only let you speculate, but will not spill the beans on how I managed to get hold of the cheese. Needless to say I and Chestnut, my brother enjoyed it so much. When Mummy finally discovered we had had the cheese, we were nearly finished. Mummy was so horrified that we managed to:
1) eat her and Dad's dinner
2) get hold of the incredibly delicious, creamy French cheese
3) possibly get sick (which is remote, in my very humble opinion)

So Mummy proclaims we are not having our Wellness dinner this evening, instead Daddy has fed us some charcoal tablets, lest we get sick. Mummy says the amount of cheese would be equivalent to at least 3-4 human servings. MMMMMmmmmmmmmm good! It was lovely. Except for no Wellness dinner. Ok well signing off now, fellow kid followers. This cheese needs to hold us over til tomorrow morning. Saving my energy until Mummy decides to feed us some Wellness again..

Pugs and brie smooches,

Pepper and Chestnut

Tuen Ng.. Dragon Boat or lack thereof...

Happy Tuen Ng (Duan Wu Jie)!!

This heat and humidity are really kicking us in the butt (or smooshy face should we say). With the temperature at 29 Celsius and humidity at 80%, Mummy and Daddy have now resorted to taking us out on early morning walks that last no longer than 45 minutes, and by 8 A.M. we are back in the apartment cool as cucumbers.

So today was Tuen Ng festival where lore has it a wise, old advisor, Wut Yuan (during the Chu kingdom), to the emperor drowned himself after his long opposition and suspicions to an alliance with the Qin kingdom proved true when the Qin used the alliance to rid the Chu. In his despair, he committed suicide by drowning. However, because he was much loved by all, nobody wanted his body to be eaten away by the fish. Villagers devised a plan, whereby, Wut Yuan's body would eventually be recovered, while the fish could feed on rice dumplings or zong.

Today and yesterday, we could only salivate watching Daddy eat rice dumplings. A huge lump of rice with fillings of meat, egg yolk and various ingredients wrapped in green leaves we were anxious to try some. Alas, that was not to be.

SO as our way (or any way of observing the holiday safely for any animal) of observing the festival, zongzi eating was the way to go. In our case, we got fed carrot and celery sticks in place on zongzi.

Pugs and smooches,

C. & P.

Mummy and Daddy's visit to China

Hello all:

Chestnut and Pepper posting together today. Mummy went to China and left us poor pugs with Daddy for almost a week. We can't whine too much as Mummy went for a good cause, Pediatric AIDS Treatment Support or just PATS. Thank goodness she hired a really good sitter, Sophie, of Pitter Patter Pet Care.

We had a blast with Sophie, even though we missed our parents.

Now that they're both back, we have another announcement! While Mummy was in China, she and my auntie, Eliza, came up with an idea to promote PATS with us pugs as mascots. Meeooowwwww and Mooooohhhhhhh! Mummy thought it appropriate since we pugs have Chinese lineage we should be promoting awareness on children with HIV and AIDS in rural China.

It's really sad. Mummy says we are very fortunate to have parents, whereas these kids do not, and largely because their parents wanted to give them and their families a better life by selling blood. They did, but the needles weren't clean. Many of their parents contracted HIV, and are now no longer alive to love them and take care of them. Even the kids have HIV because many of these kids were born to already HIV+ parents (the same parents who sold blood).

We now even have a Facebook page as mascots for PETS for PATS. Please check us out on Facebook!

Pugs and kisses,

Chestnut and Pepper

Ching Ming in Stanley

Hello humans and doggies:

Chestnut and I are resting from a long, long day out. Yesterday was Ching Ming, where we were supposed to pay respects to our deceased ancestors. Well our deceased are in the States, and luckily for us our mummy and daddy took us for a visit to Stanley.

Unfortunately, everyone else seemed to be at Stanley too... We met up with my dear friend, Seva, and her mum where we also stopped by a little makeshift temple by Stanley promenade. Notice us "pay" respects to our pug ancestors at the make shift temple.

After temple, we were seated at the Pickled Pelican for lunch where I perched atop of mummy's lap and Chestnut on daddy's.

Stanley and then lunch.. Makes us quite pampered pugs... Then to sleep.

Walk all around The Peak

Checking back from all the excitement and festivities of the New Year.. Chestnut here...

My pug sis, Pepper, and I spent 2 whole hours up at the Peak today. Wheeww, boy am I tired. With the increasing humidity and warmth, as well as walking almost vertically to get to the Peak, we are tired!

We walked up to the Peak with our mum. From thereon, I was determined to walk the whole loop that starts from the Peak Lookout Restaurant ending up on Lugard Road. Mummy thought it was so funny that I had so much energy, only to find ourselves back where we started after a whole hour's worth of walk.

We have Peaked, and now we can't get up.

Pugs and kisses!

On the 2nd Day of Lunar New Year...

Hello my friends! It's Pepper here today...

I have to spill the beans on my brother, Chestnut. He's a 'fraidy cat.. Yes, MEEOOOOOOWWW.

Yesterday morning, which is the second day of the Lunar New Year, Mummy and Daddy took us downstairs to observe the traditional Chinese lion dance taking place at our apartment complex. From several stories above, we could already hear clinging and clanging raucous caused by the cymbals and drums. Needless to say, I was not so into it all, but as usual Chestnut, who thrives on such excitement and noise loved it.

Daddy tells us that the lions are meant to scare the bad spirits away so we will have a good start for the new year, but they seemingly also scared my brother away! My nosy brother, Chestnut, was very curious in observing the two dancing lions at first, however, when a white lion approached him, he got so scared he ended being wedged underneath the balustrade of the water fountain. Daddy had to retrieve him as he was just a step from falling into the fountain! And what a sight that would have been!!! My brother detests water. That was hilarious because Chestnut always likes to play with bigger creatures multiples of his size, but I guess not this time with the white lion!

Ok, we've had too much clanging now. We need some good rest before we check in again. 'Til then check out our video clips of the lions dancing.

Pugs & smooches,

Pepper

Lunar New Year, Year of Rabbit

Gong hay fat choi (Gong xi fa cai)! We are celebrating our first Lunar New Year in Hong Kong. This year Pepper and I are celebrating with Mummy and Daddy the year of the Bunny Rabbit.

Today, we received lai see (or red envelopes) filled with $$$, unfortunately $$$ is not directly useful to us. We prefer yummy treats of either Smooches or Nuzzles. Mummy and Daddy say that receiving red envelopes mean prosperity and good fortune. As children, they were delighted to receive these lai see. Well, like we said, lai see is not directly useful to us. Mummy contends that with enough lai see we can buy our favorite Canine Caviar beef tendons. Ok, let's start counting up our lai see then...

Tomorrow, in line with tradition, will be a dragon dance taking place downstairs at our apartment complex. Mummy and Daddy are bringing us down to view it along with whatever festivities that entail. Chat with you after the Dragon Dance.

pugs and kisses!!

Happy New Year!!!

Wow! What a year it has been! Pepper and I have had quite some experiences to recap...
The major thing that happened was our move to Hong Kong in 2010. Asides from the move, we made new friends, met up with old ones and have discovered places in Hong Kong where we might not otherwise have been to with our Mummy and Daddy.

After all the madness of last night's countdown, we made it to Central Piers today. The lights, ferries and water are not unlike South Street Seaport. And oh, what another adventure. All around Central we're so reminded of how truly it is like our hometown in New York City. The crowds, bustling traffic and city lights are stuff that so remind us being in Midtown.

WE promise you more descriptions of the new sights and sounds!! Next time, we might even land ourselves a rickshaw ride ;)

Til then pugs and kisses. Smooches to all... Meeeoow and mooh.

Chestnut and Pepper